Hello! I’ve been slowly but surely catching up on all my blog posts, and the next few will be ARC reviews (or reviews of books that I received advanced reader copies of), whether through NetGalley or physical copies I’ve won in giveaways. As always, here is the link to click in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in any way you can, and thank you to StarlahReads for compiling these resources.
I finally get to geek out about Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, and I am so excited. So one thing to note about me is that I enter a lot of book giveaways – whether through publishers, Goodreads, Twitter, or book conventions. I don’t win very often, but I have gotten an occasional book in the mail from a giveaway. In late April, an email popped up in my spam folder saying “Congratulations, you’ve won an ARC of Cemetery Boys as a part of the YALLSTAYHOME Sweepstakes.” I didn’t think much of it, but I was a bit skeptical since I didn’t remember entering anything for YALLSTAYHOME, and it showed up in my spam folder. Lo and behold, a few weeks later, a physical arc of Cemetery Boys shows up on my doorstep, and people, when I say I was excited that is such an understatement. So please join me on this journey where I gush about magic and brujx and boys who stole my heart.
Yadriel’s family is having a hard time accepting his identity after he comes out as transgender. When they deny him his quinces, a ceremony where brujx receive their blessing from Lady Death, he recruits his cousin, Maritiza, to help him perform the ceremony himself. After hearing that their cousin Miguel has died, Yadriel wants to prove he’s a true brujo by summoning his spirit, finding out what happened, and releasing him into the afterlife. There’s only one problem – the spirit he summons isn’t Miguel; it’s resident bad-boy Julian Diaz, and his spirit refuses to be released so easily. Julian has some unfinished business to attend to before he can move on, and while the three of them try to uncover the mystery behind Miguel’s disappearance, and Julian’s death, Yadriel comes to realize that maybe he’s not ready to rid himself of Julian just yet.
I absolutely fell in love with this book. It’s definitely one I plan to reread in the fall after it’s released, maybe closer to Halloween to bask in all the fall vibes. The magic system surrounding Day of the Dead is thought-out and intricate, and while it plays off the trope of “women do this, while men do that” it allows for the inclusion of transgender individuals, and those who may not fit into any binary “category,” and highlights the issues that can arise from a society following these strictly gendered roles. Yadriel is someone who has to fight to be seen, and as a reader you feel his struggle and frustration with every down fall, and you understand his quest to be accepted and understood by his community. Then you throw Julian into the mix, a guy who knows who he is, knows people are not going to understand him because they automatically stereotype him, but he would die (maybe quite literally) for those he cares about in a heartbeat. Watching the two of them come together throughout the novel and help each other in ways I cannot quite explain without giving too much away was wonderful to see. Add in Maritza, the cousin & best friend who always wants to be along for the ride to either laugh with you or at you (and fight for you wholeheartedly), and you have the perfect cast of characters for this special young adult fantasy. I did not expect the ending the first time around, and when I read through it a second time I see all of the bread crumbs that are expertly laid out, just adding to my satisfaction of the book. Watching all of the puzzle pieces fit into place, just as the author had planned, was so satisfying to see.
Cemetery Boys releases inot the world on September 1st, 2020 (after being delayed due to COVID-19), and I’ve already preordered myself a copy since I’ve passed my ARC onto a friend. This was an incredible debut, and I cannot wait to devour each and every novel Aiden Thomas puts out in the future. The story is intriguing, the magic is complex, and the characters are captivating – what more could you ask for? I’m counting down the day until everyone gets the chance to read it, so if you’re at all interested, I highly recommend picking up this incredible YA fantasy novel this fall.
**Thank you to publsiher Swoon Reads and YALLSTAYHOME for hosting this giveaway, and even though I didn’t have to leave a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own**
Places where you can find Cemetery Boys:
Amazon
Goodreads
Aiden Thomas’ site
Swoon Reads
Thoughts About Things 