I know I had the book, Cemetery Boys, that much I can remember. I think I'd had to order it because life was going up in smoke in 2020 and it wasn't easy to get out to the places I used to take for granted that I could get to whenever I wanted to buy a new book. My sister had sung the praises of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and I made sure to get a copy after the release, which is important to note because it meant that I did not get to receive the beautiful pre-order gift of tarot cards that went with the book. Then I saw Lost in the Never Woods available for pre-order and it just called to me. I still have the email saying my book was shipped the day before its release. I must have started reading it the moment it arrived because the date I finished it was barely a week later. After which I immediately picked up Cemetery Boys and just felt so comforted by that world, something different than what was outside my door. Something that felt familiar because of the Latino culture in it, things that echoed my own childhood and yet expanded and explored it in ways that I wished would have been reality because helping ghosts seemed like a calling for me. I finished reading these books in the weeks after my grandfather passed away, one of many who were lost during those early years of the pandemic. These books helped me in ways I cannot begin to describe and I loved, loved LOVED them and continue to love them to this day.
Officially, I managed to get some of the pre-order cards for Cemetery Boys after all. I also have some pins and a tablet sleeve made from fabric of the characters Yadriel, Julian and Maritza in chibi form that I don't do anything with except display it with my books. I've made sure to order every book by Aiden Thomas months in advance and it was on a random day that I searched and found that there would be a sequel to Cemetery Boys. My heart felt like it skipped a beat and then leapt into my throat. A sequel? Was it possible? When I saw that it was available for request to review, I thought I'd take a leap of faith and try requesting it. It was in the back of my mind every time I checked my email, hoping to see that I'd been accepted to review the book. I squealed when I got the approval and I danced around the house for the rest of the night because I was so HAPPY that I was going to read this book. It was everything I wanted to see for these characters after so long away from them. They were perfect to see again, I can't believe how amazing and wondrous it was to visit this world again but I shouldn't be that surprised. I will read everything that Aiden Thomas writes because he is just that good of a writer. Espíritu was everything and more for fans of Cemetery Boys.
Espíritu picks up not long after the events of Cemetery Boys. Julian, who spent a large portion of the last book as a ghost, now sees ghosts. He has made many friends amongst the ghost community in the cemetery that his brujo boyfriend takes care of with his family and he's happy with the way things are going, more or less. Julian is struggling a little with keeping his new life a secret from his brother and his closest friends but he will keep the secret for the brujx because Yadriel and his family have asked him to do so. But things are changing for Julian. He has started to see and hear other things he can't explain, shadows that shouldn't be there, glowing eyes, whispers of his name in the dark. When Julian finds a dark spot on his chest, it's not long before he starts to see them on other people. Yadriel doesn't know what it means but with so much going on for the season, the boys don't know who to go to for help. That's when Julian meets Angel, a nonbinary brujx, who not only knows what the dark spots are but claims they can help Julian with it. But the more time Julian spends getting to know Angel, the more Julian starts to think Angel is not who they say they are and their methods aren't what the brujx community would do. When a dark spot shows up on Julian's close friend, Luca, Julian realizes that there is something more going on in the cemetery and he and his friends need to figure out how to save themselves before it is too late.
Everything about this world feels like it's filled with light and colors and love. In my mind, I see Yadriel and Julian glowing with love for each other with the way they support each other and make one another feel safe. I see the ferocity of Maritza with her strength to take care of those she holds dearest to her heart. I see the glow of the ghosts in the cemetery and the magic that has started to change things in the world of this book. Everything feels so familiar and comforting, this world of magic and tradition. I loved how easy it was to slip back into this world. The family dynamics between Yadriel and his father and Lita and then with Julian and his family all felt so distinct. I wanted these boys to find the balance they needed, the stability in their lives with the magic they possessed. This world is wonderful and Thomas is able to bring readers into it with an ease that feels like being embraced by an old friend. Books like that are hard to find but this one fits in with the best of comfort reads.
What can I say about these characters that is enough to convey what they mean to readers? Yadriel and Julian are still the sweetest and the most endearing pair together. I loved how easy their relationship was in this book. Their gains from the last book are reflected here with the ease that they have when they are on the page together. Julian is still brash and charming, quick with a joke and yet has the whole of the world on his shoulders trying to keep everyone safe. Yadriel is still working to gain ground with his Dad and his Lita, who he has been trying to get to include him in the goings on of the cemetery while still trying his best to do what he can for the ghosts. Maritza is a force and I was firmly on her side with her suspicions from the start. I loved how quick she was to defend both Yadriel and Julian and everyone should wish they had family like her. I also enjoyed the closer look at Julian's home and family given in this book. Rio, Julian's older brother, is heartbreaking and yet at the same time, he felt like the character I could most relate with, the one who is the caretaker of so many. Readers get to spend time with each character and we learn so much about how they fit together. I loved all of these people, even the new faces, like Angel, that we were introduced to and some old faces that we got to see again.
I wasn't sure what more could be added to the world in terms of a new story but Thomas surprised me with this development. The marks that Julian started to see were interesting and the direction they took made sense. The growth felt like what was necessary to truly leave these characters in a happy place compared to the end of the first book. Any more information veers too far into spoiler territory so I will leave readers with this. This book felt like the perfect addition to a story that means so much to readers. The developments are beautiful and the stakes are high, making this a wonderful adventure to bring readers back to see Yadriel, Julian and Maritza again. I hope so many people enjoy the time spent with this world and its people again.
In the end, this book made me cry a few times and cheer a few times. I laughed and I celebrated with these people. Aiden Thomas is a favorite author of mine and this book is another example of their great talent. I can't wait for everyone to get to see this world again and I hope they love it as much as I did.
Rating on my scale: 10 Stars!! Seriously, I have no complaints about this book. I love this world so much and I can't wait to put this book on my shelf with the rest of my collection. It was wonderful to see these people again and I'm grateful that we readers now have two books to read and enjoy in this universe.
My thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and Aiden Thomas for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment