Contemporary Authors

1. Labyrinth lost https://lccn.loc.gov/2016000723 Córdova, Zoraida, author. Labyrinth lost / Zoraida Cordova. Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks Fire, [2016] pages cm PZ7.C8153573 Lab 2016 ISBN: 9781492620945 (13 : alk. paper) 2. The vast and brutal sea https://lccn.loc.gov/2014011241 Córdova, Zoraida. The vast and brutal sea / Zoraida Córdova. Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks Fire, [2014] 317 pages : 22 cm PZ7.C8153573 Vas 2014 ISBN: 9781402296208 (hc : alk. paper)9781492608677 (tp : alk. paper) 3. The savage blue https://lccn.loc.gov/2014006816 Córdova, Zoraida. The savage blue / by Zoraida Córdova. Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks Fire, 2014. pages cm PZ7.C8153573 Sav 2014 ISBN: 9781492601241 (tp : alk. paper) 4. The savage blue https://lccn.loc.gov/2012046381 Córdova, Zoraida. The savage blue / by Zoraida Córdova. Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks Fire, [2013] 408 pages ; 22 cm PZ7.C8153573 Sav 2013 ISBN: 9781402282065 (hc : alk. paper) 5. The vicious deep https://lccn.loc.gov/2012289509 Córdova, Zoraida. The vicious deep / Zoraida Cordova. Naperville, Ill. : Sourcebooks Fire, c2012. 372 p. ; 22 cm. PZ7.C8153573 Vi 2012 ISBN: 9781402265105 (hbk.)1402265107 (hbk.)97814022744111402274416

• Zoraida Córdova - http://www.zoraidacordova.com/about/

  THIRD PERSON:

  Zoraida Córdova is the author of The Vicious Deep trilogy, the On the Verge series, and Labyrinth Lost. She loves black coffee, snark, and still believes in magic. She is a New Yorker at heart and is currently working on her next novel. Send her a tweet @Zlikeinzorro
  FIRST PERSON:

  zoraida mug shot 3 papercuts_zoraida-300x240 peekcoverzingeorgia

  I write YA Urban Fantasy about things that go bump in the night. I also write about 20-something-year-old-girls searching for love and the meaning of life. I often wish my life were a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sex and the City. I’m a contributing writer to Latinos in Kid Lit, Bustle, and B&N Teen Blog.
  I’ve always loved stories about magic and impossible worlds. Other things I love: Moon Prism Power. Five by five. Orlando Bloom’s Face. Daughter of Poseidon. I love you/I know.
  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

  Where did you go to school?
  I went to high school in Queens, New York. I studied at Hunter College and the University of Montana in Missoula.
  Who are your biggest creative influences?
  Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Libba Bray, Holly Black, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.
  When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
  I was thirteen. I started writing ever since a teacher assigned an extra credit short story. It was supposed to be three pages and it ended up being twenty pages. I only got a check plus!
  Will you come to my town?
  For travel dates see my events page.
  Will you visit my school, library, or book club?
  I’m available to schedule a school, library, or virtual visit. I also offer a free 30 minute Skype session when you order 10 or more of my books. For more information see my visits page.

  For critique services click here.

  GUEST POSTS & ESSAYS:
  Bustle: Creating The Fantasy World Of ‘Labyrinth Lost’ Meant Staying True To My Roots
  Hypable: Exclusive Book Trailer Reveal
  Diversity in YA: On Finding My Place in Fantasy
  Bookpage: Zoraida Cordova’s Brooklyn

  INTERVIEWS & SPOTLIGHTS:
  A Page With a View Q&A
  Read Diverse Books Q&A
  NPR: 3 YA Fantasies Reads For Fall
  Buzzfeed: 23 YA Books You MUST Read This Fall
  Makers: 8 Female Authors to Read in Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month
  Huffington Post: Young Adult Authors Honor Hispanic Heritage Month
  Latina Magazine: Inspiring Young Latina: Zoraida Córdova
  Cosmopolitan: Vampires, Werewolves and–mermaids? Oh my!
  Cosmopolitan: 5 Latina YA Authors You Need on Your Radar
  Latin Post: Fantasy, Diversity, and Self.
  Holly M. Campbell: Adventures in Writing w/ Zoraida
  Latina Lista: Mermaids in America originally posted in Diversity in YA

  VLOGS:
  Alethea Kontis interviews me for The Waterworld Mermaids

  PODCASTS:
  Overdrive: BEA edition
  Papercuts Podcast Episode #7
  Booktrib with Rachel Carter Episode#2

• Read Diverse Books - http://readdiversebooks.com/a-qa-with-zoraida-cordova-author-of-labyrinth-lost/

  A Q&A With Zoraida Córdova, Author Of “Labyrinth Lost”
  October 26, 2016 Naz @ Read Diverse Books
  I reviewed Labyrinth Lost a couple of weeks ago for Latinx Heritage Month. It was such a fun book full of adventure set in a fascinating world, with wonderful Latinx representation and a positive portrayal of a bisexual protagonist. By now, you have surely heard of this book. If not, please read my review and realize that yes, you do in fact want to read it!

  Zoraida Córdova was previously on Read Diverse Books for my “The Value In Saying Latinx” post, and she’s back again for a Q&A about Labyrinth Lost, her favorite authors, stories about witches/brujas she’s loved in the past and more!

  Q&A With Zoraida Córdova

  RDB: Can you share with us some of the best moments from Labyrinth Lost’s launch day?

  This was one of my most favorite launch parties. There were empanadas, guava puffs, and lots of my favorite people. I felt truly blessed to have such a great support. Better yet, my friend and author Claribel Ortega took some footage. You can view it here:

  RDB: When did the idea for this story first come to you?

  I wanted to write a Latina version of Charmed. I grew up watching paranormal and supernatural TV shows, but the heroes never looked like me. Even the one time there was a Latinx on Buffy, she was a mummy who almost ate Xander. (Also, come on.) I think one of the slayers in Season 7 was Latinx. So, two out of seven seasons? Yay.

  Creating a magic that was new but familiar was crucial to developing this series. This magic is tied to their family and blood and roots and hearts. Book 2 going to be way different from book 1 and I’m proud of that. But the magic is still the same.

  RDB: If Alex were not a Latina, Labyrinth Lost would be quite a different story. Did you envision Alex as a Latina from the very beginning? And do you think her identity as a Latina is an integral part of the narrative?

  Alex was always Latina. Brujas are ours. I’ve seen non-Latinx authors use them and it feels odd. It’s almost like someone else trying play dress up of you. This is not to say that they can’t be done right by someone who isn’t Hispanic or Latinx. But there’s a feeling. It’s in the microcosm of our homes. The way we speak to each other. The scents and sounds of our homes and voices. There’s a rhythm to books that are #ownvoices.

  That being said, Alex is very much a third-gen kid. She’s a New Yorker, but she is very well aware of her roots. As a Latinx, you can assimilate the f*ck out of yourself, but because of the way you look, you’ll always be seen as an other if you aren’t white. Alex’s “other” is her magic. I hope that parallel comes through.

  RBD: Do you and Alex share anything in common? Could a teenage Zoraida have gotten along with Alex and perhaps become her friend?

  LOL. Alex’s refusal to have her Deathday was 100% inspired by me not wanting to have a quinceañera. It’s beyond rejecting a “party.” It’s rejecting something cultural. Teen Z was super emo and into rock. I hung out with the punk and skater kids and was the shy one. I didn’t talk very much. If anyone knows me now they wouldn’t be able to recognize the same person. I went from being super introverted to super extroverted once I got to college. Like Alex, I have a big family, and I’ve learned to appreciate them a whole lot. Abuela is #Queen, just like Mama Juanita is. Like Alex, I took body-building in high school. I wasn’t much of a group sports person. Fun fact: I named Alex (Alejandra) after my grandmother.

  RDB: What are some of your favorite books, TV shows, or movies about witches or brujas?

  I’m severely out of touch with TV nowadays. Books: The Witch of Blackbird Pond was one of my favorites as a kid. The Den of Shadows by Amelia Atwater Rhodes was a huge favorite as a teen. Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch were my jam as Teen Z. I REALLY got into the Witches of East End and wish it had gone a second season.

  RDB: If you had the chance to create a book club with your favorite authors of all time, which legends or contemporary writers would you want to join your club?

  Libba Bray, Junot Diaz, Leigh Bargudo, Sarah Beth Durst, and Hemingway just to have a boozy zombie among us.

  RDB: Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or can you just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?

  I like noise so sometimes I go to a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Sometimes I write at home when I don’t want to get dressed. I try to give myself a routine so that it feels like I’m responsible and put together.

  RDB: Would you ever consider collaborating with another author to write a novel? If so, who would it be?

  Definitely. I have a go-to group of people who I love like Dhonielle Clayton, Adam Silvera, and Gretchen McNeil, and Roshani Chokshi. Very different styles, but there are things I love about each and all of their works.

  ___

  Thank you so much for answering my questions, Zoraida!

  I hope you all enjoyed the Q&A and if you haven’t yet read Labyrinth Lost, it’s time to seriously consider adding it to your 2016 or 2017 TBR. 🙂

• Cosmopolitan - http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a13445/zoraida-cordova-interview-and-book-review/

  ampires and Werewolves—and Mermaids? Oh my!
  By Erasmo Guerra
  Jun 19, 2013

  COURTESY OF AUTHOR
  MORE FROM CELEBRITIES & ENTERTAINMENT

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  "It took me years to stop wanting to be a princess," said Zoraida Córdova.
  As a kid, growing up in Ecuador, Córdova obsessively watched Disney's The Little Mermaid. It's how the 25-year-old author claims she learned English. But when she sat down three years ago to write her own novel about a mermaid, she was determined to put the fins on a boy.

  "I was tired of the mer-girl who gives up her world for love," Córdova said, referring to the choice the character Ariel made in the animated film. "As I got older, I began to like the sea witch Ursula a lot more. She had more complexity."

  Wanting to turn the sea princess trope on its tail, Córdova created Tristan Hart, a two-legged, six-foot-two, turquoise-eyed, Speedo-wearing lifeguard—or, as it's said in the book, "the more naked version of firemen."

  The sixteen-year-old swim-team jock from Brooklyn discovers he's a descendant of mythical sea creatures when he sprouts a fishtail. Just don't call Tristan a mermaid. Merdude will do.

  The adventure story, in which Tristan is forced on a quest to keep the worlds of surf and turf from colliding, spans a three-book series that began with the Vicious Deep published in 2012. The second book, The Savage Blue, was released earlier this summer.

  One of the few Latinas working in the hugely popular YA paranormal genre, Córdova looked a bit mermaid-y herself when she met up with CFL one recent afternoon. Sitting on a rocky bluff overlooking Turtle Pond in Central Park (where a pivotal scene in the firstbook takes place), her long, curly tresses glistened in the sunlight, as if she'd emerged from a dip in the ocean. But instead of scalloped shells—or any other clichéd accessory we might think of when mermaids come to mind— Córdova wore a Fleetwood Mac T-shirt and denim shorts. Her hard-to-miss nails were painted Coney Island Cotton Candy with a glittery topcoat called Dream.

  Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Córdova moved with her family to the U.S. at age five or six—she's not sure, exactly—and grew up in Hollis, Queens. "Me, LL Cool J, Run-DMC and Nicki Minaj," she said, giving shout-outs to former borough residents.

  Córdova said she'd wanted to be a writer since she was thirteen, when a three-page short-story assignment turned into twenty. "The drama of my friends who were dating other people but were really in love with each other," she summarized with a self-deprecating shake of her head. "It was called 'Final Heartbreak,' after the Jessica Simpson song."

  In high school, a teacher helped her get into a summer camp, where she studied with A-list writers like poet Kimiko Hahn and YA author Jacqueline Woodson. At 19, Cordova completed her first novel, a quinceañera story that ultimately didn't sell. The rejection left her so distraught that she stopped writing for a year.

  Then, in 2010, she turned to the urban fantasy genre when she took up the write-a-novel-in-thirty-days challenge of National Novel Writing Month. That novel, The Vicious Deep, sold the following spring.

  Her books capture the gritty, freak-show cool of Coney Island and explore an otherworldly island populated by sea creatures that are dangerously different than typical Disney lore. The story also has a romantic current that runs through the murky, ever-shifting relationship between Tristan and his childhood-friend-turned-hot-chick Layla Santos.

  In Central Park, despite a recent rainstorm, and the stubborn clouds that lurked on the horizon, Córdova went over her plans for the summer. Hit the beach. And, of course, head out to the upcoming Mermaid Parade in Coney Island in full-makeup. "I put a fishnet over my face and pat it with eye shadow so that it leaves a fish-scale pattern," she said. "It was too hot for a tail last year so I did a pink skirt and a sparkly bikini top."

  This year she's determined to put together a fishtail. At least when she's not busy working on another kind of tale. The third and final installment of her book series, which Córdova says she's "writing all the time," is, for now, a series of jottings on index cards and notebooks that she carries around in her purse.

  Pictured above is author Zoraida Córdova in Coney Island, where her novels The Vicious Deep and The Savage Blue are set. For those in New York, the 2013 Mermaid Parade takes place Saturday, June 22 at 1 PM.

Labyrinth Lost
Maggie Reagan
Booklist.
112.22 (Aug. 1, 2016): p74.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text: 
Labyrinth Lost. By Zoraida Cordova. Sept. 2016.336p. Sourcebooks/Fire, $17.99 (9781492620945). Gr. 8-11.
For witchlike brujas, there are birthdays and there are Deathdays, the latter being when a bruja accepts her powers. Latina Alejandra comes from
a long line of brujas that includes her mother and two sisters. Alex, to her dismay, is potentially the most powerful bruja in generations, but
during her Deathday celebration, she attempts a spell to rid herself of magic, only to have it backfire and send her entire family to a purgatorylike
otherworld. Wracked with guilt, Alex joins forces with Nova, an angry brujo boy, and Rishi, her nonmagical best friend, to face a horde of
otherworldly creatures and attempt to save her family. There's a lot going on here, and the narrative can be overstuffed, while Alex's immense
powers are at times too convenient. But this succeeds with its lush use of Latin American mythologies, an unexpected love story, and, above all,
in Alex's complicated relationship with her family. Alex is a necessary heroine, and this dark fantasy nicely paves the way for a sequel.--Maggie
Reagan
Reagan, Maggie
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Reagan, Maggie. "Labyrinth Lost." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 74+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761844&it=r&asid=e0d0ef3d41b4d031ff75a31597f33c5c. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460761844

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Cordova, Zoraida: THE VICIOUS DEEP
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 15, 2012):
COPYRIGHT 2012 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Cordova, Zoraida THE VICIOUS DEEP Sourcebooks Fire (Children's Fiction) $9.99 5, 1 ISBN: 978-1-4022-6510-5
Another mermaid book joins the flood. Tristan Hart "was born at sea." It's no wonder he is the star of the high-school swim team and a Coney
Island lifeguard. But while Tristan always prided himself on swimming like a fish, he never imagined he'd become one. When a rescue attempt in
stormy seas nearly robs Tristan of his life and leaves him with some unexpected physical side effects, the truth shakes Tristan to the very last
scale of his newly sprouted fishtail. Son of a human father and a mother whose distress over their son's transformation never feels truly genuine,
Tristan discovers he is heir to the Sea King's throne and must compete in a tournament to lay claim to the kingdom. With his best friend and
secret love, Layla, and his mer-guardians, Kurt and Thalia, by his side, Tristan battles creatures from the deep on land, at sea and in his own mind.
Herein lies one of the novel's greatest problems. Despite the alluring title, the creatures in this story, with the exception of one particularly scary
excommunicated mermaid, simply aren't that vicious. In fact, their descriptions--like the small, round half-man, half-blow fish--seem more suited
to one of the original Star Wars movies than contemporary teen fiction. Neither vicious nor deep, the novel is mildly entertaining and will likely
appeal most to dedicated mer-fans. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Cordova, Zoraida: THE VICIOUS DEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2012. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA286236134&it=r&asid=6a4731ec077c376d350455e01b17296c. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A286236134

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Cordova, Zoraida. The Vast and Brutal Sea; A Vicious Deep
Novel
Kate Neff
Voice of Youth Advocates.
37.4 (Oct. 2014): p79.
COPYRIGHT 2014 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text: 
3Q * 4P * J
Cordova, Zoraida. The Vast and Brutal Sea; A Vicious Deep Novel. Sourcebooks, 2014. 336p. $16.99. 978-1-4022-9620-8.
This third novel in the Vicious Deep series finds hero Tristan Hart, who now knows he is part merman, fighting not just for himself and his love
interest but also for the future of the seas. He is a wisecracking goofball who always seems to do the right thing in the end. The story's action
takes the reader from the land to the deep seas, to a magical land filled with river people whose motivations are murky.
There are lots of characters, and though the family trees in the back of the book are helpful, anyone new to the series may want to start at the
beginning before jumping into this third novel. Although Tristan is an older teenager, and there is some colorful language throughout, this series
would probably appeal most to younger teen readers. The series already has a passionate fan base, so faithful readers will enjoy this installment.--
Kate Neff.
Neff, Kate
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Neff, Kate. "Cordova, Zoraida. The Vast and Brutal Sea; A Vicious Deep Novel." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2014, p. 79+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA387828298&it=r&asid=475f50e9f996e4f7272d724c928c0f5a. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A387828298

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The Vicious Deep
Ann Kelley
Booklist.
108.18 (May 15, 2012): p65.
COPYRIGHT 2012 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text: 
The Vicious Deep.
By Zoraida Cordova.
2012. 384p. Sourcebooks, paper, $9.99 (9781402265105). Gr. 9-12.
After a supernatural riptide crashes down on Coney Island, it sweeps Tristan Hart out to sea for three days before washing him back to shore. It
turns out that hottie Tristan, with his freakishly iridescent eyes and crazy swimming talent, is half merman, and the Sea Court has come to claim
him as its own. Tristan--a self-proclaimed "merdude"--is subsequently named one of five champions to vie for the magic trident, and whoever
possesses it will ascend the throne as Sea King. Along with Sea Court politics and a villainous silver mermaid, this has all the typical high-school
drama befitting a half-human teenager. Cordova's multilayered debut, the first title in a projected series, would benefit from more detailed plot
expositions (for instance, what exactly is the "Alliance" and how does it work?), but what she does exceedingly well is capture an authentic 16-
year-old male voice and viewpoint. The YA market is rife with mermaid-themed books of late, but the great title, killer jacket, and edgy portrayal
of the mythical creatures should cast a wide readership net.--Ann Kelley
Kelley, Ann
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Kelley, Ann. "The Vicious Deep." Booklist, 15 May 2012, p. 65. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA291352247&it=r&asid=ddbb22a748d7540582a2af4fa2064a48. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A291352247

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Cordova, Zoraida: THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 15, 2014):
COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Cordova, Zoraida THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA Sourcebooks Fire (Children's Fiction) $16.99 7, 1 ISBN: 978-1-4022-9620-8
Those who enjoy pure, lightweight fantasy fluff will find all they want in the conclusion of the Vicious Deep series.Mer-human hybrid Tristan
descends, of course, from sea royalty, although his uncle Kurt really has a more direct claim to the sea throne. However, the evil Silver Queen
Nieve holds the reins of power now. The book picks up amid action that recaps the previous books and sends Tristan off to a magical island so
that he may prepare himself for the epic battle to come. There, he must battle the monstrous Naga, with unexpected results. At last ready for the
big fight, he returns to Coney Island, where he unites with vampires to help him in the battle. Yes, merpeople and vampires. All the while, Tristan
is plagued by vivid visions of the future. The final battle plays out with magical creatures such as a giant turtle and a sea horse the size of a whale.
Cordova lightens the narrative by including a sprinkling of comedy drawn from Tristan"s cocky Brooklyn attitude. The relationships involved are
so complex that readers new to the series would be well-advised to start with the first book, as the author includes little recap, and even fans may
need a refresher. Tristan"s true love, captured by Nieve, plays almost no role, which keeps the focus on action.Fans of the mermaid craze will
enjoy it. Others may struggle. (Paranormal romance. 12-18)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Cordova, Zoraida: THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA370998007&it=r&asid=42fd390cf003a19470c72413f2351b21. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A370998007

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The Savage Blue
Ann Kelley
Booklist.
109.18 (May 15, 2013): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text: 
The Savage Blue.
By Zoraida Cordova.
May 2013.416p. Sourcebooks/Fire, $16.99 (9781402282065). Gr. 9-12.
There are only six days and seven nights before the duel in Toliss, when one of four finalists will be crowned King of the Sea. The good news is
that Tristan, only a merman for the past two weeks and one of the contenders, found a piece of the magic trident at the conclusion of The Vicious
Deep (2012). But as he and his friends, sea creatures and "foot-fins" alike, seek the remaining two parts of the trident, dark forces are gaining
ground (and, yes, that includes the evil silver mermaid). Once again Tristan's cocky, dudelike voice feels authentic, and the cliff-hanger ending
leaves readers anticipating the next "clash of sand and sea." --Ann Kelley
Kelley, Ann
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Kelley, Ann. "The Savage Blue." Booklist, 15 May 2013, p. 67. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA333064689&it=r&asid=cc16cc18800ef577c4837866e0f8d3fc. Accessed 10 Apr.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A333064689

Reagan, Maggie. "Labyrinth Lost." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 74+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761844&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017. "Cordova, Zoraida: THE VICIOUS DEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2012. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA286236134&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017. Neff, Kate. "Cordova, Zoraida. The Vast and Brutal Sea; A Vicious Deep Novel." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2014, p. 79+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA387828298&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017. Kelley, Ann. "The Vicious Deep." Booklist, 15 May 2012, p. 65. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA291352247&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017. "Cordova, Zoraida: THE VAST AND BRUTAL SEA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA370998007&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017. Kelley, Ann. "The Savage Blue." Booklist, 15 May 2013, p. 67. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA333064689&it=r. Accessed 10 Apr. 2017.

• Smart Bitches Trashy Books
  http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/labyrinth-lost-zoraida-cordova/
  Word count: 1136

  Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
  by SB Sarah · Sep 12, 2016 at 4:00 am · View all 4 comments

  Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
  SBTB Media Page
  Labyrinth Lost
  by Zoraida Cordova
  SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 · SOURCEBOOKS FIRE

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  GENRE: GLBT, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult

  THEME: Mythology, Fish Out of Water

  ARCHETYPE: Diverse Protagonists, Witch/Wizard

  Given the cover art, the characters, the presence of brujas, the series name Brooklyn Brujas, and the summary, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion I’d like this book. It was a stunning and powerful mix of all my catnip. I like witches, I like young women coming into their power, otherworldly or otherwise, and I like the unique sense of family that arises with groups of women practicing said power.

  Now that I’ve read it, my anticipation was satisfied, but I also wish there had been more. It’s a mix of Alice in Wonderland and Charmed with an adventure and quest in an immense mythological world that exists within our reality and in an “otherworld” where the heroine journeys to save her family. The more I think about the different elements of the world and the way gods, magical creatures, witches, and the whole mythology itself are represented, the more it fascinates me. But I think about the world and the mythology more than I think about the characters.

  Alejandra is a bruja (witch) of immense power that she’s been suppressing because she really, really doesn’t want what she’s got. Her family is descended from a very long line of brujas, and her two sisters have unique powers of their own. Alex has been terrified of the increasing strength of her powers as they manifest in frightening ways – and when the full extent of what she can do is revealed, everyone realizes she is one of the most powerful brujas in a generation.

  Alex complains a LOT. She doesn’t like her powers, she is frustrated by her sister’s interference in her life, she is angry and hurt that her father left the family without explanation and never returned, and she blames her magic for that. She wants to confide in her best friend, but she can’t, because said friend isn’t a bruja. When she finally decides to do something about all her frustration, she does a very typical but still annoying young person thing: she trusts a totally slippery and way-too-convenient dude named Nova who shows up at exactly the right time with exactly the right answer to her problems, and is all, “Oh, sure, reject your powers? Yeah, you just have to do this other thing instead of the thing you’re meant to do.”

  Alex takes full possession of her powers and safely manifests them in a Deathday celebration, wherein her family summons the spirits of her ancestors and they collectively offer their blessing to Alex. Most of the family, dead and living, are present when Alex does the thing she shouldn’t do instead of the thing she should, and it goes bad in a hurry. When the shouldn’t-thing backfires, her family gets sent to Los Lagos, an otherworld that is unstable and miserable, and of course Nova is right there to help her follow them to get them back, if they are still alive. They might not be.

  Here are the things that worked: like I said, I could think about the world-building and mythology all day. I would read for hours more about how the brujas interact with the modern world, and how they hide and co-exist with non-magical people. How do they use their magic? When is it allowed or not allowed? What does a circle do together that is so vital? What if you want to punch some of the members of your circle right in the nose? I love a rich, layered, conflicted secret world, especially one that hangs out alongside or embedded within the “real” one.

  I loved Alex’s reliance on her best friend, on her sisters, on her mother, her aunts, and all the women in her life. The strength of the women in this story is staggering – and so beautiful.

  What I struggled with was Alex’s dedication to trusting Nova even after he repeatedly proved himself to be dishonest, deceitful, or incredibly stupid. She gets good advice from someone who helps her and keeps her friend safe, but Nova talks her out of following it. She doesn’t question him when she should, and questions him when she doesn’t have reason to. She mixes stubbornness and being easily persuaded with an inconsistency that undermined her intelligence. There were a whole string of, “Oh, honey,” moments in this book for me, and I could make a necklace out of the total number of times she exercises deplorably bad judgment. Learning the full extent of Nova’s backstory, and the degree to which he becomes a vivid character by the end helped somewhat. But nonetheless, through much of the story, Alex’s character is frequently overwheemed by her powers, which she doesn’t want to accept, by her responsibilities to clean up for her own actions, which she does accept, and by her steadfast inability to judge character accurately, which for me, grew frustrating to read about.

  I can’t say much about the romance without spoiling a lot of the plot, but I can say that it’s understated, sweet, and adorably satisfying. I wish the story had been able to spend more time on Alex’s relationships, but the primary ones that have the most impact on her life are beautiful, especially her best friend, Rishi. Romance readers may not find a lot of romantic tension in the story, but it’s not meant to be a romance. I still think this will appeal to many of us because of the strength and emotional resonance of Alex’s connections with the women around her – her family, her best friends, and the various beings that help her along her journey. I was also very happy that…

  Show Spoiler
  I’m trying not to spoil things, so I apologize for the vagueness.

  Overall, I think this book contains a fabulous world with a terrific, galloping adventure through a vivid and wrenching underworld. While I was reading it, I had a hard time putting it down. But the story has most of its strength in the plot and the world-building than in the characters and their emotional development and consistency, and I missed those aspects even while I enjoyed the rest.

• Lambada Literary
  http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/ya/09/01/labyrinth-lost-by-zoraida-cordova/
  Word count: 599

  REVIEWS : SPECULATIVE : ARTICLE

  ‘Labyrinth Lost’ by Zoraida Córdova
  Review by Michael Waters
  September 1, 2016

  Alex is a late bloomer. Descended from a line of brujas (witches), she is the last in her immediate family to gain her powers. But when those powers manifest, they do so in full force. Turns out, Alex is an encantrix, the most powerful kind of bruja, and when obscure monsters begin attacking her family, she is rushed to perform her Deathday ceremony—a rite of passage for brujas in which they summon their powers in the presence of dead relatives, reminiscent of an undead quinceañera—in order to protect them.

  But Alex doesn’t want her Deathday to happen. She has seen how magic has torn apart her family, and she won’t let the same happen to her. With the help of Nova, a tattooed brujo who works in the local magic shop, she memorizes a spell to, at the moment she is supposed to convoke her full powers, strip them away forever. But the spell backfires—massively—and in the process Alex accidentally banishes her family to Los Lagos, a Wonderland-esque underworld teeming with souls in purgatory and monsters exiled from the Earth. There, time doesn’t exist, and magical creatures abound.

  At the heart of Los Lagos is the Tree of Souls, a forest famed for the power it collects and for the powerful ruler named the Devourer that has taken it over—and it is in this forest where Alex’s family is trapped.

  Guided by Nova, whom Alex doesn’t trust, she embarks on an uneasy quest through Los Lagos to find her family. But Los Lagos is a dangerous place for an encantrix, and Alex’s powers attract the most deadly creatures the underworld has to offer. Replete with everything from golden Viking boats, to rivers composed of trapped souls instead of water, to giant cats (“if a saber-toothed tiger and a snake demon had a baby”), to half-human-half-crow bird women, Los Lagos is a realm as rich as it is strange, and it is in its world-building where the beauty of Labyrinth Lost lies. A seamless blend of fantasy and Latinx culture, Labyrinth Lost feels both strikingly authentic and badly needed: in the overwhelming white world of YA literature, a cast of characters comprised almost entirely of people of color—combined with a fantasy world both inspired by a non-white culture and written by a member of that culture—is sure to change the lives of many teens who rarely see themselves reflected in the books they read.

  But there is another layer of importance to the novel, and that is Alex’s bisexuality. Presented matter-of-factly, without any cheesy plot twist attached, her bisexuality becomes visible but not defining, and the mere fact of its healthy portrayal makes it essential to a group of queer people long erased in mainstream media. (Suffice it to say, there is a bisexual love triangle in Labyrinth Lost.) Throw in a tangle of mysteries that underlay the novel—what happened to Alex’s missing father? Why does Alex keep sensing the presence of her dead aunt?—and you have a book that should be widely read as much for its thrilling plot as for its larger social importance in giving fair representation to people of color, queer people, and those who belong to the intersection of the two.

  - See more at: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/ya/09/01/labyrinth-lost-by-zoraida-cordova/#sthash.VVURzSxf.dpuf

• Plenitude Magazine
  http://plenitudemagazine.ca/brooklyn-bruja-comes-of-age-in-zoraida-cordovas-labyrinth-lost/
  Word count: 776

  Latonya Pennington • Reviews
  Brooklyn Bruja Comes of Age in Zoraida Córdova’s Labyrinth Lost
  November 1, 2016
  51iu-2eablReviewed by Latonya Pennington

  Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova is a fantasy-fiction story about Alejandra Mortiz, a bruja who comes from generations of witches. Alejandra, however, hates magic and wants to be a normal teenager. In an attempt to remove her powers during a ceremonial Deathday celebration, she accidentally sends her entire family to a dark land known as Los Lagos. In order to bring her family back, Alejandra must traverse Los Lagos with a shady brujo boy named Nova and learn the true potential of her powers.

  Some of the best facets of the story are the magic system and the world-building. Inspired by aspects of Latin American culture, it is refreshing and fascinating, especially given how narratives of whiteness tend to dominate fantasy fiction. The magic system involves male and female witches known as brujos and brujas who cast spells known as cantos. These are unique to each person—my favourite cantos involved healing and summoning the elements. In this story, using magic comes at a price, known as a “recoil”: for example, bruises and physical scenarios that create a scenario of compromise and negotiation. Recoil presents a twist to the story, adding an interesting and rarely seen element.

  The best world-building takes place in the land of Los Lagos. Each part of the land has its own unique characteristics—for example, a rainforest called the Selva of Ashes that can set itself on fire. There are also half-dead creatures known as maloscuros and female carrion birds called avianas. The creatures I enjoyed the most are adas, fairies who aren’t what they appear to be. I like how they are Latinx and how they managed to delay Alejandra and her companions with their magic and cunning.

  Although most of the book takes place in Los Lagos, some of the magic happens in the real world too, most notably once Alejandra’s powers awaken. These scenes will entertain Harry Potter fans, especially those that are reminiscent of the early books from the series. A personal favourite is when Alejandra accidentally makes a snake crawl out of a bully’s mouth.

  Besides the magic system and world-building, the characters are spectacular. Alejandra, the main heroine, is a reluctant witch; she is sympathetic and her growth as a character is inspiring to watch. The bisexual representation provided by her character is remarkable, because it shows her attraction to boys and girls without her having to come out. This is empowering to see due to limited positive bi representation within the fantasy genre.

  Opposite Alejandra is the main antagonist known as The Devourer, another bruja. The Devourer has a fascinating character background that is woven into the history of the land of Los Lagos. She also comes across as very powerful especially when she battles Alejandra. The only complaint I have is that her power-hungry villainy can be as dull. I wish the book shared more of her backstory and brought more humanity to her character so we could better understand what motivates her.

  There are other profound female characters, including Alejandra’s older sister Lula, her aunt Rosaria, and her great-grandmother Mama Juanita. These characters help Alejandra become more comfortable with her powers through their magical, spiritual, and familial bonds. One particular scene that stands out is when she learns to heal with the help of Lula’s spirit. It’s a really tender moment that demonstrates how much they mean to each other despite being apart from each other.

  In addition to the female characters, Nova is a strong male character. At first, he seems like the stereotypical mysterious bad boy, but his street-savvy knowledge of magic makes him more interesting. As one of the major characters, he is the only non-family member, and one of the only male characters that helps Alejandra on her journey. I like that he gradually learns to respect Alejandra’s growing magical knowledge and ability.

  All in all, Labyrinth Lost is an exciting and compelling fantasy adventure. This book shows that even if you’re feeling lost, you have the power to go where you’re meant to be. With great magic, characters, and world-building, the book is a fantastic journey.

  Córdova, Zoraida. Labyrinth Lost. (Sourcebooks, 2016) Hardback. 366 pp. $13.97.

  Latonya Pennington is a freelance writer based in the United States. She has written reviews for Black Sci-fi, Black Girl Dangerous, and Black Girl Nerds.

• Book Page
  https://bookpage.com/reviews/20346-zoraida-cordova-labyrinth-lost#.WOvTTBIrJR0
  Word count: 266

  Web Exclusive – September 06, 2016

  LABYRINTH LOST
  Dark enchantment in a witchy coming-of-age tale
  BookPage review by Jennifer Bruer Kitchel

  Zoraida Córdova’s latest book for young adults, 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.

  Most of Alex Mortiz’s family members are brujas and brujos—women and men with magical abilities. They do not care for the term “witches” because their power comes from the Deos, the benevolent gods, not from the evil that the English word inspires. Alex, however, is frightened by the ferocity of her magic. She thinks it makes her do bad things. So as her Deathday arrives—a day of celebration and blessing—she is ready to refuse it and send it back to the Deos. When her cantos seems to backfire and she sends her entire family to Los Lagos, the realm of the dead, she must use her power to rescue them.

  This is a coming-of-age story in all its particulars. Alex struggles with her feelings for a girl at school, for a handsome brujo and with who she wants to be in the world. As she and the brujo Nova confront obstacles on their trip across Los Lagos, the plot allows each difficult encounter to be as symbolic as necessary for her personal growth—without interfering with the adventure and suspense. Córdova’s prose is fluid and accessible, though readers may encounter some awkward passages.

• School Library Journal
  http://www.slj.com/2016/08/teens-ya/family-magic-and-identity-zoraida-cordova-on-labyrinth-lost/
  Word count: 1247

  You are here: Home / / Family, Magic, and Identity: Zoraida Córdova on “Labyrinth Lost”
  Family, Magic, and Identity: Zoraida Córdova on “Labyrinth Lost”
  By Shelley Diaz on August 22, 2016 Leave a Comment
  Photo by Sara Jane Jaramillo
  Photo by Sara Jane Jaramillo
  Zoraida Córdova’s Labyrinth Lost (Sourcebooks/Fire; Sept., 2016) combines teen angst, Latinx traditions, familial bonds, and the power of love to create a unique urban fantasy. SLJ caught up with the YA author to chat about her writing process, favorite characters, and more.
  What inspired you to write Labyrinth Lost? Was this a project that you’ve been working on for a long time?
  Labyrinth Lost was inspired by my love of fantasy worlds. I wanted to write about family, magic, and the search for identity. I also wanted to create a magical system that was inclusive of people of color. I’ve had different incarnations of Labyrinth Lost in the works, and even after we sold it 2014, it still went through many revisions. I have character drafts and notes that go back before that. It’s been in my mind for a long time, and now seems to be the perfect time for it.
  How did you go about creating this complex world of the brujas (witches) and Los Lagos (the Underworld)?
  I knew I didn’t want to take from preexisting mythologies. I started by creating a pantheon of gods for the brujas. I created their own form of praying and spells, called rezos and cantos. I tried to act like a magical cultural anthropologist and fill in the needs and gaps for the world I was creating. I wanted it to feel grounded in reality, but still new.
  Alex’s love for her family is the heart of this novel. How did you go about constructing such nuanced relationships among the sisters and with her extended family?
  That’s such a cultural thing. I come from a big Ecuadorian family. My mom and her brothers and sister are close. My cousins are my brothers and sisters. My grandmother is our heart and soul. The magic of Labyrinth Lost is generational and passed down by blood. In order for Alex to come to terms with her magic, she must understand her family and where she comes from. So I wanted to evoke a similar bond as the one I grew up with.
  As referenced in the title, the novel has many points in which the protagonist is turned around and put in surprising situations. Did you have a specific method of keeping track of all the plot points and twist and turns?
  I like to break scenes down and write them on post-its and index cards. I usually tape them to my wall, but sometimes I lay them out on my floor. I also color-code them. I know there are computer programs that can help me out with the same, but maybe I just need an excuse to buy office supplies. I also like to feel like I have physical control in moving these scenes around.
  YA-HS-Corvado-Labyrinth LostThere’s some obvious chemistry between Alex and Nova. There are also some sparks flying between Alex and her best friend Rishi. I love that Alex’s possible bisexuality was a nonissue. Did you always intend to include this “untraditional” love triangle?
  I’d like to see more sexual orientations represented as a nonissue. I know this is dependent on the kind of social circles and regions people grow up in this country. When I wrote Alex and Nova, my intention was to write an antilove story. That was the very first incarnation of Labyrinth Lost. In a way, the love triangle is more like an acute angle than a closed triangle. I wanted to keep love out of this because my main concentration is Alex’s family and rescuing them. Still, the more edits that went into the book, the more I developed the motivations of each character. I realized that there is so much love in Alex’s heart. Nova and Rishi just bring out different kinds of love.
  Which character was your favorite to write? Which one was the most difficult? Which do you identify with the most?
  My favorite character to write is Lula, Alex’s sister. Lula is carefree, beautiful, and confident. She’s unapologetic in everything she does. But something tragic happens to her that shatters that confidence. Book two in the “Brooklyn Brujas” series is going to be her story, and that’s going to be a lot of fun for me to explore.
  My most difficult character to write was Nova. He’s got some edges that will never be smoothed out. He’s morally ambiguous and a survivor. That doesn’t always make for a good ally.
  I identify with Alex in a lot of ways. I grew up with a single mother and a little brother. But we had a large family network that never made me feel as if I was missing a paternal figure. My mother, like Alex’s mother, is extremely selfless and hardworking. Alex’s culture is her magic, and it takes her a long time to connect with that. I felt the same way when I was in high school trying to figure out my place in the world. Sometimes I couldn’t write Alex because it felt too close.
  You’re also one of the cofounders of “Latinxs in Kidlit” blog. Now a few years since its foundation, how do you feel about the website’s reception and impact on publishing?
  I feel really proud of what we’ve accomplished. Cindy Rodriguez, Sujei Lugo, Lila Quintero, and everyone just work well together. They put a great effort in keeping this site going. As we move forward, it’s important to make sure that books by and about Latinx are accessible for those looking for them. We’ve always been here. It’s just a matter of getting the books in the hands of readers. As long as people keep reading the blog, we’ll keep running it.
  What words of advice would you give young aspiring authors of color?
  Don’t worry about the market. Write the book of your heart, and the market will follow you.
  You’ve written about mermaids and also some new adult titles. Are the writing experiences different in comparison to writing Labyrinth Lost?
  The Vicious Deep was a book I desperately wanted to write. The story of Tristan and his quest was very organic for me. I wrote it because it was the story I wanted to read. My romance novels in the “On the Verge” series were so much fun to write. I wanted to tell the story of twentysomething women who are looking for their place in the world, and the men who love them. I wanted to write about “unlikable” and strong women. With Labyrinth Lost, I needed to tell that story. I’m glad I get to write more installments for the “Brooklyn Brujas.”
  What are working on next?
  Right now I’m working on [the second installment of] the “Brooklyn Brujas” series. I also have some proposals I’m working on. I have so many stories I want to tell. I wish there were more hours in the day!

• The Lesbrary
  http://lesbrary.com/2016/09/06/danika-reviews-labyrinth-lost-by-zoraida-cordova/
  Word count: 466

  Danika reviews Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
  SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 ~ DANIKAELLIS
  labyrinth lost

  Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

  2016 is shaping up to be introducing the kind of LBPQ YA we’ve been waiting for. Between Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit‘s YA lesbian romance with an unapologetically religious main character, Of Fire and Stars‘s fantasy story focusing on two princesses falling in love, and Labyrinth Lost‘s Latina system of magic with a bisexual main character, the genre seems to be progressing leaps and bounds. We’re finally getting the kind of complex, intersectional, multilayered stories that readers have been endlessly requesting.

  Labyrinth Lost is about Alex, a Brooklyn bruja (witch) who resents her own powers. She believes that magic has done nothing but harm her and her family, and she longs to be free of it. The magical system is inspired by multiple Latin American and Afro-Cuban cultures and beliefs. Although the book begins in our world, the majority is set in Los Lagos, an in-between world of gods and powerful, unearthly creatures.

  It was refreshing reading a fantasy book that didn’t root itself in European tradition. Alex herself is an interesting protagonist, as well. Her magic has to do with her (dead) ancestors, and using it has consequences. Because of her history with her almost uncontrollable power, she has associated it only with destruction. She just wants to live her everyday life, and it frustrated with her sisters’ and mother’s attempts to include her in their belief system and magical practices. She struggles to accept her power, and for a queer POC protagonist, this has particular resonance.

  Although the word “bisexual” isn’t used in the text, Alex finds herself pulled between two people: the brooding brujo she finds herself allied with, and her bubbly best friend, who is her constant source of light. In case it wasn’t already obvious, I wasn’t a fan of the broody dude. I’m usually not. But Rishi, her best friend (who doesn’t even get mentioned in the description!) is amazing. She’s absolutely adorable, and it was also nice to see an interracial pairing in a queer YA book that is between two girls of colour.

  Although I did have some issues with the book partway through, all of those concerns were addressed by the end. I wasn’t expecting so much of the story to take place in another world. Daniel Jose Older called it a mix between Alice in Wonderland and Dante’s Inferno, which isn’t far off.

  If you’re interested in a different take on YA fantasy, definitely pick up Labyrinth Lost!

• Latinos in Kid Lit
  https://latinosinkidlit.com/2016/09/08/book-review-labyrinth-lost-brooklyn-brujas-1-by-zoraida-cordova/
  Word count: 575

  Book Review: Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1) by Zoraida Córdova

  Reviewed by Cindy L. Rodriguez and Cecilia Cackley; ARC received from Sourcebooks Fire.

  Labyrinth Lost CoverDESCRIPTION FROM THE PUBLISHER: Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

  Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

  The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

  OUR TWO CENTS: We’re thrilled to kick off our new blogging year with a celebration of Labyrinth Lost, an action-packed, urban, portal fantasy with a powerful, complex Latina main character. This novel tackles family, friendship, love, survival, and self-acceptance all while Alejandra Mortiz and her friends Nova and Rishi fight for their lives in a dangerous underworld.

  Alex, a 16-year-old Ecuadorian-Puerto Rican, has been fighting against her magical powers for years, feeling her growing abilities are more of a burden than a blessing. She believes her magic is responsible for her father’s disappearance, and she fears more harm will come to herself and her family if she wholly embraces her magic during her Deathday ceremony. Alex, therefore, sabotages the ceremony, which causes her family to be kidnapped from their Brooklyn home to Los Lagos, where they may die at the hands of The Devourer, an evil, power-hungry bruja who’s happy to destroy anyone who gets in her way. The first few chapters really establish Alex’s character and her position in her family so that you understand and care about how conflicted and guilty she is about her family’s disappearance. The stakes could not be higher, and you want Alex to succeed.

  Labyrinth 1Alex’s journey through Los Lagos feels very classic. The different communities she encounters, each with its own history and strengths and weaknesses, may remind readers of classic adventures like The Odyssey, Dante’s Inferno, and Alice in Wonderland. Every new area of Los Lagos brings a ton of action. Not every writer can create battle scenes so the reader can clearly visualize them without having to re-read. Zoraida is GREAT at this.

  For those who like some romance with their action-adventure story, Labyrinth Lost delivers there as well. Alex has feelings for both Nova and Rishi throughout the narrative, making her one of the few bisexual Latinas in young adult fiction. We especially love that neither Alex’s bisexuality nor her bruja lifestyle are depicted as “issues” or morally problematic. Alex struggles to accept the responsibility and consequences of her magic and her place within her immediate family and the larger bruja community with its deep history and traditions. But, neither her cultural identities or sexual preferences are depicted as “the problems,” thank the Deos.

  Labyrinth Lost, the first in a series, ends in a way that will leave you hungry for the sequel with promises of further family complications and more development of secondary characters, Nova and Rishi. We can’t wait!

• Cleaver Magazine
  https://www.cleavermagazine.com/labyrinth-lost-a-young-adult-novel-by-zoraida-cordova-reviewed-by-leticia-urieta/
  Word count: 877

  LABYRINTH LOST
  by Zoraida Córdova
  Sourcebooks Fire, 321 pages

  reviewed by Leticia Urieta

  Alejandra Mortiz is a bruja. She lives her life in the presence of death. She comes from a long line of brujas, each with their own unique manifestation of power.

  But Alex, as her family and friends know her, does not revere the magical legacy of her family; she fears it. After seeing her Aunt Rosaria rise from the dead as a child, Alex is burdened by the sense that magic is not a gift, as her sisters Rose and Lula believe, but a curse. Her fear grows more acute as her Death Day approaches. This is a bruja’s coming of age celebration when the manifestation of her power is blessed by her ancestors.

  To add to Alex’s worries, strange things are happening. She crosses paths with a young brujo, named Nova, who is a charming and suspicious element in her already tense life. She hears mysterious voices in her head, and her magic power begins to appear in frightening ways, alienating her from her family and her best friend Rishi. When the family is attacked, Alex has to take things into her own hands to stop the malevolent presence that seems to stock her. On her Death Day, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power, but the spell backfires, and her family disappears. It is up to Alex to travel, with Nova, through a portal to Los Lagos, a magical in-between realm, to fight the malevolent being that has haunted her even before her birth and save her family.

  Alex’s voice is the perfect blend of sincere emotion and sarcastic humor that embodies her teenage frustration at feeling apart from her family’s traditions:

  I wonder what it’s like in other households during breakfast. Do their condiment shelves share space with consecrated cemetery dirt and blue chicken feet? Do their mothers pray to ancient gods before their leave for work every morning? Do they keep the index finger bones of their ancestors in red pouches to ward off thieves? I already know the answer is no. This is my world. Sometimes I wish it weren’t.

  Like Alice travelling through Wonderland, Alex travels through Los Lagos, a place full of dangers, traps and ancient secrets, and realizes the extent of her own power, as friend, daughter, sister, and bruja. The present tense brings an immediacy to the storytelling that builds on the excitement of the quest and will keep readers turning to the next page.

  Zoraida Córdova
  The word “bruja” has a negative connotation in Latin American culture, largely due to the colonial conflict between Catholicism and the religious practices of indigenous and West African cultures. As Córdova states in her afterword, brujas and brujeria have largely been something to be feared. In recent years, Latinx writers, artists, and activists have actively worked to reclaim the word and celebrate their freedom of cultural expression and self-empowerment. Traditional brujeria denotes communal power over the malevolent forces. Unlike the covens of witches seen in movies and shows with young white women who wreak havoc on the people who have wronged them, Labyrinth Lost is an imaginative homage to traditional cultural practices and archetypal struggles between past and present, power and fear.

  While the archetypal quest and struggle between good and evil are familiar, Alex’s journey feels especially necessary right now. Latinx readers, old and young, need a protagonist that is flawed, unique, powerful, but vulnerable, representing our multidimensional selves. Alex is often passive and unsure of herself. She lets her friends take the fall and get hurt for her. This allows the other characters shine and illustrates Alex’s journey as she begins to understand her role as bruja, friend, sister, and daughter. It is in this way that Alex comes to terms with her identity as a queer woman who loves deeply and fiercely; a potent part of reading this novel. In a social environment where Latinx people are being actively demonized, it is fitting to have a heroine and a cast of characters that shun stereotypes in a world set in, both, the real and the unreal.

  Each chapter begins with a quote from the Book of Cantos, a book that holds all spells of the brujas, including their history and stories. Each one invokes the stories that form Alex’s past and prophesy her future. Each ancestor that visits Alex on her quest plays an integral part in shaping who she is. The mixture of the ancient, of things foretold and destinies altered, lends a sense that we are made up of our pasts, but, also, our futures, and that these futures depend on our actions, not upon who we believe we are. In this way, the story ends with a necessary feeling of hope.

  Córdova also leaves us with a cliffhanger, providing ample room to spend more time in the wonderful world she has created in the next two novels in the trilogy. I look forward to seeing where Alex’s story goes.

• SFF Book Reviews
  https://sffbookreview.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/zoraida-cordova-labyrinth-lost/
  Word count: 1322

  ZORAIDA CÓRDOVA – LABYRINTH LOST

  10. January 2017
  So far, the #DAreadathon has brought me nothing but joy. My second read not only introduced me to a writer whose work I will definitely follow but also to a wonderful story set in a different sort of Brooklyn. Although Alejandra’s story is told, the world offers much more room for other characters’ tales. And I can’t wait to read those too.

  labyrinth-lostLABYRINTH LOST
  by Zoraida Córdova

  Published by: Sourcebooks Fire, 2016
  Ebook: 336 pages
  Series: Brooklyn Brujas #1
  My rating: 7,5/10

  First sentence: The second time I saw my dead aunt Rosaria, she was dancing.

  Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.
  Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.
  The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

  divider1

  Alex lives with her mother and her two sisters in a Brooklyn unlike the one you know. The entire family are brujas with magical powers that differ for every family member. Little Rose has a sort of sight, Lula, the eldest sister, can heal people, and Alex… well, Alex is The Chosen One. Except she really, really, really doesn’t want to be. In order to escape her powers, to get rid of them, she does something dangerous and, naturally, it backfires.

  What follows is essentially an adventure story in the underworld, filled with strange and magical creatures, dangers untold and hardships unnumbered (see what I did there?). Alex only has the mysterious and kind of annoying Nova for company and while he is good-looking and saves her life occasionally, he remains surrounded by secrets.

  There are so many little things to love about Labyrinth Lost. The world-building was fantastic, not only in Los Lagos, the underworld, but also the bits about brujos and brujas living in Brooklyn circa now. The author doesn’t spend too much time talking about the gods and mythology, but just the right amount to give readers a feeling for what Alex has grown up believing, what kinds of magic work and how brujas live, their rituals and relationships. As a heading for each chapter, there is a little excerpt – usually a line from a poem – of the Book of Cantos, and athough you could completely ignore those and still read the main story, they are a lovely addition to the world building of this novel.

  I also loved how certain words were in Spanish, although the map sort of threw me. Bone Valle was hard to get used to – I always wanted it to be either Bone Valley or Valle de Huesos or something. The mix of Spanish and English in one name or title didn’t sit well with my brain (it wants things to be organised and orderly, although I rarely give in to that urge in real life), but I adored that the gods’ names were all Spanish, that Alex’s full name is Alejandra, which her sisters sometimes shorten to Ale. Oh yeah, I should mention, even if you don’t speak a word of Spanish, the pronunciation of some words is explained within the text. Zoraida Córdova found a totally simple, yet elegant solution to that problem. Look how she does it (emphasis by me):

  “This is what we do, Ale.” Ah-ley. My family nickname.

  See? It’s so simple, the author does it several times throughout the book, and it works. There are no lengthy explanations, the readers aren’t left completely alone with a name whose pronunciation they might be uncertain about… I love it. It’s a tiny little thing but I love it. And that’s basically what makes this book so charming. An accumulation of tiny little things that all add up to something great.

  Labyrinth Lost, by Zoraida Córdo

  If I take one feeling away from this book, it’s a sense of family and belonging. It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling that I totally wanted to hold on to. So… a little side-note, because I want to: I have loved the movie Labyrinth since I was a little baby. This is very likely the reason I jump on any movie, book, music album, or what-have-you with the word “labyrinth” in the title. Labyrinth Lost is very much like that old Bowie movie (oh, David Bowie :() in that it’s essentially about family. While Sarah, in the movie, in my opinion acts mostly because of guilt (sending your baby brother to the Goblin King is pretty harsh and will get you into SO much trouble), Alex in Labyrinth Lost acts more selflessly. Sure, she is also powered by her guilt because the whole mess is her fault and her family are suffering because of her. But she also really loves them and it is shown, over and over, throughout the book, how strong the bond between these family members is.

  So, yay for family love. For still loving each other even if one of you makes a terrible mistake that almost gets everyone else killed. Not-so-yay for the obvious Nova story, but another sort-of yay for the friendship between Alex and Rishi. Rishi is the character you just have to love, even if you don’t want to. She is too wonderful and adorable and quirky to dislike. I think she was under-used as a character in the second half of the book but, hey, this is only the first book in a series. So I’m keeping my hopes up for more Rishi in the next volume.

  Lastly, I have to talk about the characters. We mostly spend time with Alex, Nova, and Rishi and although they all have distinct personalities (and I adore Rishi), they felt a little superficial. Like each of them got three characteristics and that was the basis for all their actions. Alex did grow during her journey, and I actually liked Nova as a character, but there is definitely room for improvement. As for the side characters, I was surprised by how clearly Lula and Rose, Alex’s sisters, stood out in my brain. Those two, although we see very little of them, felt like real people, especially Lula. So I’m also hoping really hard for more about them in future novels.

  Another huge brownie point goes to the author for (1) making her protagonist bisexual, and (2) for making the love triangle bearable and the conclusion satisfying. The romance was very understated and felt so natural… I am so not used to this in a YA book.

  So although the story itself and the journey Alex takes is by no means original, Labyrinth Lost had so many small things going for it that I didn’t mind. The creatures the protagonists meet in Los Lagos feel almost like train stations they have to pass to get to the end boss, their adventures feel quite episodic. But none of that matters when I look at the bigger picture and at the insane amount of happiness and hope this book left me with. A book that you can close with a smile on your face and happy thoughts in your brain – that’s a great book if you ask me!

  MY RATING: 7,5/10 – Very good!

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