Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

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Description

When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back, in this own voices middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Storm RunnerandAru Shah and the End of Time.

Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her familys disapproval. After all, only brujashumans who capture and control criaturasconsort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime.

When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombrern,a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devils Alley, though, shell have to become a bruja herselfwhile hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey.

With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her familyand maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.

Reviews

"Riveras spellbinding debut feels incredibly fresh. Enchanted readers will hope for more from Cece and her extraordinary, magical world." Booklist (starred review) "Mesmerizing...With excellent pacing and rich world-building, debut author Rivera flawlessly immerses readers in the landscape of Tierra del Sol and Ceces journey." Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Intertwined with rich Mexican folklore and culturally infused language, this is a brilliantly unveiled coming-of-age story not for the faint of heart.... Courage, determination, and unwavering love are the foundation of this debut." School Library Journal "...Packed with magic, adventure, friendship, and Latinx-inspired mythology... [Readers]will delight in exploring Ceces world." Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books "Rich world-building and enticing characterization strike hope for a sequel about the dauntless Cece." Horn Book Magazine "With distinct voices for the human and supernatural characters, Guerras narration enhances the magical realism of the mythological fantasy. Listeners will be cheering for the endearing heroine to prove herself and rescue her sister." Booklist "Glorious world-building, pitch-perfect narration, and stellar storytelling." Sean T, Audible.com editor "An astonishing and moving tale infused with spirit and unforgettable magic." J.C. Cervantes, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Storm Runner series "Flush with incredible worldbuilding, mucho espaol throughout, and an unforgettable cast, this book reminds us that our greatest strengths can sometimes be found in the unlikeliest of places." Pablo Cartaya, award-winning author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora "Pokemon meets Coco in a spirited and moving adventure, at once familiar and tantalizingly strange, peopled by beautifully crafted and vivid characters." David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Gero A new Narnia full of desert heat and danger, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls mixes familiar myth, inventive magic, and vivid characters to capture readers. Anna Meriano, author of the Love Sugar Magic series A beautifully written fantasy story with tons of heart! Ryan Calejo, author of theCharlie Hernndez series

Author Bio

Kaela Rivera still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she's not crafting stories, she's using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook).