How many times have I exclaimed, in the purest form of excitement, that even though this year is not a good one, we've been seeing some exceptional releases in literature? I say it at least six times a month, I think, but that doesn't make it any less true--Lobizona is proof of that.


Lobizona
by Romina Garber

Some people ARE illegal.

Lobizonas do NOT exist.

Both of these statements are false.

Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.

Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.

Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.

As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.

 As always, a copy of this book was provided by the author or publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

How good was Lobizona? Words can't describe. There was a big part of me that contemplated key-smashing my way through this review, but Romina Garber deserves better than that when it comes to praise. Lobizona is that good. We're talking, "no--I will NOT put my book down" levels of good. Eyes glued to Garber's prose levels of good. "I can't shake the book, these characters, or its stunning cover art" levels of good.

You get the point. Lobizona was downright compelling. My only advice for readers is to set aside an entire day to devote to this one, because once you begin it? You really won't want to put it down. At. All.

When I first began reading Lobizona, the sun had just set. It was dark, quiet, and my lamp's light was flickering in the most eerie way. This has absolutely nothing to do with the novel, but it honestly set the mood for my experience reading it. Long after the light's bulb burned out, I found myself using my cellphone's light rather than getting up to get a bulb. I didn't want to turn away from Lobizona for even a second.

There's this feeling of surprise that came with Lobizona. In my mind, I had a distinct idea of what the story was and how it would feel. What I expected was only partially true. Garber weaves the story with elements of several genres; creating a fantastical and realistic tone and world. The story unfolds in a way that is quick, warm, aching and intriguing.

Lobizona's biggest strength lay in its exploration of its more serious topics. It makes the narrative so easy to slip into and connect with. During moments of injustice, readers will feel that fire burning in their chest; emotions will run high, and you will feel your heart beating in tune with Garber's story.

Ultimately, and without spoilers, this novel was exceptional in many ways. Not only did it grip me, it left me feeling that hum of excitement for another installment. Lobizona was another story that is quick to remind readers what it means to feel and why we love to read.