Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Besties Mayté Robles and Lorena (Lo) de León have made a pact to escape their fathers' unsavory legacies. Formerly a member of the mighty Las Cinco Familias of Ciudad Milagro, Mayté's father has disgraced their family with his drinking, gambling, and unpaid debts. Meanwhile, Lo's mother has disappeared, and her abusive father wants to pawn her off to a suitor who benefits his agenda. When the renowned Fortune's Kiss comes to town, the girls take a chance on this elusive magical gambling haunt that offers winners their heart's desire. However, the glamorously dark atmosphere is not all fun and games, as the twisted Lotería is ghastlier than either of them envisioned. The real life Lotería game is a unique framing for this sinister fantasy. The aptly named gamemaker, Misterioso, seems to viciously enjoy when participants are precipitously defeated and their dreams are sacrificed. Friendships, families, and love interests take abrupt, fast-paced turns as reality is distorted during gameplay. The ominous tone includes startlingly gruesome components that will thrill body horror aficionados. It's enigmatic and sadistic, and readers will find themselves shocked and elated as secrets are revealed. Some Hispanic/Latinx culture is intriguingly infused, and readers may be compelled to play the much less disturbing board game version of Lotería. VERDICT An ardently macabre and unique horror-fantasy mashup with strong appeal for the rabid and eager fans of V.E. Schwab and Stephanie Garber who are ready to go darker.--Lisa Krok
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two friends risk everything in a dark magical competition for the chance to make their deepest dreams come true. Though her family was once one of Las Cinco Familias, the five most powerful in Ciudad Milagro, Mayté Robles' debt-ridden father drinks too much and has lost their fortune. Feeling abandoned and resentful, Mayté can't afford to buy the paint she needs to try to make a success of her art. Worse, she's being violently threatened by her father's debt collectors. Though still a member of the aristocracy, Lorena de León, Mayté's best friend, struggles with her mother's unexplained disappearance years ago and her father's physical and verbal abuse. When a poster appears, announcing tryouts in their town for Fortune's Kiss--a legendary pop-up gambling den that grants winners a magical wish--the girls commit to conquering the game together. The mysterious Fortune's Kiss is rumored to ruin some players' lives, but Mayté and Lo are desperate. In her rush to get to the game, Lo makes a split-second decision that comes back to haunt her. The fast-paced plot will pique readers' curiosity as questions, secrets, and betrayals arise with each new round of the ruthless game of Lotería the contestants play. The enchanted salon where the game takes place is glamorously luxurious but pulses with an evil magical force that tries to corrupt everyone inside. Surprises abound that will keep readers guessing until the ultimately hopeful and satisfying conclusion. A well-structured and intriguing tale.(Fantasy horror. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
