Adult, book review

Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa (ARC Review)

Title: Bindle Punk Bruja
Author: Desideria Mesa
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Historical, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Published: September 13, 2022

This post is sponsored. A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Yo soy quien soy. I am who I am.

Luna–or depending on who’s asking, Rose–is the white-passing daughter of an immigrant mother who has seen what happens to people from her culture. This world is prejudicial, and she must hide her identity in pursuit of owning an illegal jazz club. Using her cunning powers, Rose negotiates with dangerous criminals as she climbs up Kansas City’s bootlegging ladder. Luna, however, runs the risk of losing everything if the crooked city councilmen and ruthless mobsters discover her ties to an immigrant boxcar community that secretly houses witches. Last thing she wants is to put her entire family in danger.

But this bruja with ever-growing magical abilities can never resist a good fight. With her new identity, Rose, an unabashed flapper, defies societal expectations all the while struggling to keep her true self and witchcraft in check. However, the harder she tries to avoid scrutiny, the more her efforts eventually capture unwanted attention. Soon, she finds herself surrounded by greed and every brand of bigotry–from local gangsters who want a piece of the action and businessmen who hate her diverse staff to the Ku Klux Klan and Al Capone. Will her earth magic be enough to save her friends and family? As much as she hates to admit it, she may need to learn to have faith in others–and learning to trust may prove to be her biggest ambition yet.

⤖ My Review ⬻

Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa is a captivating and thrilling read that took me on a journey filled with action, adventure, and magic. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by the premise of the book, and was excited to pick it up. I mean, 1920s Kansas City, a diverse cast of characters, and magic? Gimme.

One of the standout features of this novel is the quality of the writing. Mesa’s prose is engaging and descriptive, painting vivid pictures of the world she has created. I found myself drawn in by her words and was easily able to visualize the scenes she described. I also liked how Bindle Punk Bruja brought up societal issues from the 1920s (especially when the reader realizes how a lot of those issues are still issues today).

The main character, Luna, is a strong and compelling figure, and I was immediately drawn to her. The side characters in Bindle Punk Bruja are equally well-drawn and memorable. Mesa has created a cast of vibrant and diverse personalities that add depth and richness to the story. I found myself becoming invested in their stories and rooting for their success.

While the start of the book may seem slow, I believe this was a deliberate choice on Mesa’s part. The information that is gathered during this time serves to make the action that much more enjoyable when things really kick off. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Bindle Punk Bruja and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good adventure story filled with magic and intrigue. Desideria Mesa is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

⤖ About the Author ⬻

Desideria Mesa (shockingly) has an eclectic taste, her favorite novels ranging anywhere from Anne of Green Gables and The Help to Mistborn and Ready Player One. Getting lost in a historical, sci-fi, or high fantasy novel will likely be her ultimate demise besides crafting her own stories, of course. Her sassy writing style eventually gained her representation by Rachel Brooks at BookEnds Literary Agency who landed the self-proclaimed pirate a two-book publishing deal with Harper Voyager. Having battled through the query trenches herself, Desi has extensive experience with the querying process, agent research, and manuscripts. Aside from churning out novels, she enjoys writing songs, poetry, and short stories.

⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let's Chat ⬻

Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!

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