Right away the reader is immersed in Yadriel's world, right next to him as he goes about trying to show his community, and himself, that he is a Brujo. His sense of self is completely tied to this traditional role, leading him to be secretive, hide important information from the other Brujx, and partake in a dangerous mission to help a non-Brujx spirit (Julian). His community is so staunchly traditional that they have a hard time accepting Yadriel for who he truly is, and because of this he has been denied the rights of young men within the Brujx community. This tears at his confidence, his identity, and his heart. The relationship between Yadriel and Julian is captivating. As first, Julian is a burden, a spirit refusing to be put to rest, and forced on Yadriel while he tries to prove himself. Soon though, they begin to compliment each others personalities. Julian is a ball of energy, continuously in motion, where Yadriel is a quiet, closed-off, contemplator. While Yadriel can still Julian's wild heart, Julian is able to break Yadriel out of his comfortable shell. Together, they take on the task of trying to find Julian's body, in order to release his spirit to the afterlife. Knowing, as they go, that it is becoming harder and harder to say goodbye. Julian is an incredible character. He is understanding, protective, caring, and completely accepting. Yadriel at first has certain inaccurate assumptions about Julian, which Julian breaks apart as they get to know one another. He cannot sit still, is always moving, which explains his dislike of school. His friends, believed to be a group of miscreants, are actually a group of lost kids (runaways, whose home situations are either foster care, abuse, or they have been disowned). These kids have been abandoned by an unfair, uncaring system and they protect each other fiercely. Yadriel's cousin, Maritza, is the only other member of his community who knows about his quinces and Julian. She is also a bit of an outsider, as she cannot perform her Bruja duties, because she is a vegetarian and Bruja's use animal blood to perform their craft. She and Yadriel have both felt the sting of not fitting in, of being cast aside for being different. Maritza was funny, powerful, loyal, and she showed more understanding and care for Yadriel than his own father and brother. This book was very much about the importance of tradition, but also about the importance of change. Tradition can be upheld, while still allowing for new elements to be brought in, especially when those changes make your community stronger and more inclusive. It is also about the power of community to break a spirit, how being rejected by your loved ones can lead to a darker path. Trying to justify discrimination by means of your belief system is always problematic; as seen when Yadriel goes around his family, who had refused to perform his quinces, and is blessed by Lady Death. His families unwillingness to understand who he is would have stripped him of his rights as a Brujo. I loved learning about the history of Dia de Muertos; the food, the decorations, the cultures that all take part in the celebration. The detail and description of the festival made me feel as though I were there, witnessing the cemetery transform into a place where spirits would return to their families. I highly recommend this novel, it had a compelling storyline, interesting history, wonderful characters, and a romance that made my heart race. Can we get more of Yadriel and Julian, please?
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