Disclosure: Some of the links in this Wayward Witch review are affiliate links. If you click them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. The decision of whether or not to buy something is completely up to you.
The third and final installment in Zoraida Cordova’s Brooklyn Brujas series absolutely delivers. Wayward Witch follows the youngest sister, Rose Mortiz. She finds herself portaled from her Deathday party and into the Kingdom of Adas. It’s a fairy kingdom based in the Caribbean with fair folk inspired by Latinx cultures.
Find my review for Labyrinth Lost here and Bruja Born here.
Summary of Wayward Witch
Rose can’t leave well enough alone and casts a Canto to learn the truth. But she gets more than she bargained for. As her world comes crashing down, she and her father get pulled into the Kingdom of Adas. She must contend with her newly discovered power and survive King Cirro, the adas and the rot that threatens to consume the kingdom and break into her world. Along the way, she makes unlikely allies and friends and learns that she’s so much more than she thought.
Characters
The protagonist Rose was so relatable. She’s the youngest and suffers from baby of the family syndrome. She feels the pressure of being the good sister who doesn’t make huge mistakes. But when she casts her truth Canto, she gets sent on an adventure she never wanted. It leads her to understand her sisters and family better.
Throughout the novel, Rose hears the voices of her sisters in her mind, wondering what Alex or Lula would do in her situation. She starts out as a fine balance of bookish, quiet and sarcastic, evolving into a powerful, warrior bruja who eventually learns to listen to her own inner voice. It’s a fantastic journey as Cordova illustrates how an individual is shaped by their familial ties while finding their own way.
Supporting Cast
The cast of Wayward Witch consists of various magical beings and the different kinds of fae created for this Latinx-inspired fairy kingdom. The twins, Iris and Arco, the prince and princess of the kingdom, become Rose’s companions along with the chosen Guardians. They journey together on a quest to rid Adas of the rot. While Arco chooses the path of storyteller and historian, Iris chooses a soldier’s life. Both come to love Rose in their own ways, but the dynamic between Iris and Rose stands out. Iris starts out feeling disdain for Rose. But she comes to find there’s more to the young bruja than meets the eye. Throughout the narrative the relationship between Rose and Iris plays a significant role in bringing out Rose’s true power.
In the novel’s end notes, Cordova acknowledges how the first two books adhered to the gender binary, so she sought to make space for more identities in the final book. Enter Lin Octavio, a brujex that goes by they/them pronouns. Lin and Rose become attached quickly, since they share similar backgrounds of growing up with parents missing from the picture. They’re much closer than they think, and that’s all I’ll say about that.
It would take a novel of a post to go through each character in the cast, so I’ll leave it at this. Even in an ensemble of so many people, no one fades into the background. Each supporting character brings a memorable personality to the table, making for a well-rounded story.
Plot
While the first two books in the series are great, Wayward Witch showcases how far Cordova’s writing has come. The story had me turning the pages like crazy and every time I thought I saw where it headed, it took another twist and turn. Cordova created gasp-worthy revelations at the end that felt like an appropriate ending to the whole series.
The Kingdom of Adas takes inspiration from Latinx cultures and the Caribbean environment. Cordova paints a vivid and lush picture with specific details of food, the environment and characters’ physical features. Therefore, everything about the world built in this book lets the readers know where it finds its roots. Cordova created a refreshing take on the fairy kingdom idea by incorporating Latinx heritage, language and folklore into a brand new world.
Wayward Witch Rating
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a wild ride from start to finish. It keeps you invested in the world and characters all the way through.
Get your copy here! Let me know if you read the book what you thought of it. What other witchy books do you recommend?