My July Reading Wrap-up

I finished reading 4 books last month in the following genres: cozy mystery, YA fantasy, and supernatural horror. Below, I'm going to give y'all my mini reviews for each book, but PLEASE check the content warnings on TheStoryGraph.

Here we go!

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala brings balances the cozy mystery w/ the consequences of gossip & the difference between intent & impact. We still get cute moments w/ Lila & Longanisa as well as the tasty snacks we've come to expect from Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries but this time, the Calendar Crew come face-to-face w/ a controversy they didn't directly create.

This was an entertaining read! I was worried about diving back into the series because it felt like book 3, Blackmail and Bibingka, got a little too dark for my taste. This time, the mystery seems to be more balanced in how much of reality is infused into the storyline.

Some of the gossip that the Calendar Crew shared was pretty funny & reminded me of my maternal family's propensity for drama. It was also nice to see Lila's relationships stabilize & her dedication to her community.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries w/ delectable treats, adorable dogs, & nosy family members, you should give this series a try!

The Hero's Equinox by Antoine Bandele brings us back to Ifa Academy in the aftermath of the Orisha of the ocean's massive tidal wave attack that resulted in toppled skyscrapers, many injuries, & a death. TJ is beset w/ survivor's guilt despite the praise he keeps receiving from his community for saving them. To top it all off, Shango, the Orisha who helped TJ & his friends in their time of need has been imprisoned by The Court of All for abandoning his cosmic post to do so. TJ can't seem to catch a break!

There's a lot going on in book 3 of the series & it's a thick one at 732 pages in e-book format which too me a long time to read. I picked up the audiobook to help me, in the end. Sometimes, I had a hard time following the side quests & kind of wish there were fewer of them, but I could see how it all came together in the end.

As with the first 2 books in the series, this novel was packed with action, sweet moments, friendship, & grief. I love that more of the trio's family was involved in the action this time around & seeing more of TJ's actual powers outside of boosting his friends. I'm curious to see where this journey takes our MC in book 4.

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia delivers supernatural horror in a tale of mysterious disappearances. I’m very impressed by the way that Silvia Moreno-Garcia flits between the pov of 3 different characters in 3 timelines, settings, & cultures! Like her name implies, Minerva is wise & artistic, but she recognizes that she inherited some of her natural ability from Nana Alba. This means that I didn’t have to yell at her (in my head) to stop running towards danger like I usually do (out loud) w/ most horror flicks.

With good pacing & gripping narratives, I was hooked! This novel was especially effective because it inspired me to learn more about the horror genre in literature. It also helped that Boston was accurately depicted. I went to school in the city & would have cringed if the scenery & public transit were off.

I found The Bewitching captivating & perfectly creepy, despite the fact that I predicted a few aspects of the mysteries within it. The only thing that I wasn't a fan of was the incest, but I guess that's part of what built the unsettling atmosphere.

If you enjoyed Mexican Gothic or books by Isabel Cañas, I think you should pick this book up, too!

The Summer I Ate The Rich is an intricate story seasoned w/ Haitian folklore, immigrant family dynamics, colorful dishes, & righteous anger.

I really enjoyed reading from Brielle‘s point-of-view! She’s snarky, quick-witted, creative, & determined to follow her dreams. Brielle’s idea for a supper club is clever! I loved that her bestie was so supportive in this endeavor (& all the ones that followed). That’s the ride or die energy she deserves.

At times, this novel was heartbreaking which made the arc all the more triumphant. There was no way of predicting the ending to this tale and that’s new for me. While I like that aspect, I’m still not sure of how I feel about the ending and I’m curious to see what other readers think.

So pick up this book, y’all!!